Context:
After Chinese troops’ incursion in eastern Ladakh in 2020, Patrolling Point 15 (PP15) in Hot Springs and PP17A near Gogra Post were among the four friction points between the two armies. The other two being PP14 in Galwan Valley and the north bank of Pangong Tso.
In a major breakthrough, the Indian and Chinese sides have started disengaging at Patrolling Point (PP15) in the Gogra-Hot spring region of eastern Ladakh. This comes after the armies reached a consensus in the 16th round of the India-China Corps Commander level meet.
Location:
Gogra Post is east of the point where the Chang Chenmo river takes a hairpin bend coming southeast from Galwan Valley and turning southwest.
The area is north of the Karakoram Range of mountains, which lies north of the Pangong Tso lake, and south east of Galwan Valley.
Significance of Hot Springs and the Gogra Post:
- The area is adjacent to Kongka Pass, one of the main passes that China claims marks the boundary between India and China.
- India’s claim to the international boundary lies significantly east, covering the whole Aksai Chin region.
- Hot Springs and Gogra Post are located at the boundary between two of China’s most historically troubled provinces (Xinjiang and Tibet).
What is the importance of Disengagement on Hot Springs and the Gogra Post?
The disengagement in the Hot springs-Gogra region will de-escalate the border tension with China. Since it officially ends the eye-to-eye confrontation at all new friction points created by the PLA in 2020.
The regions, PP15 and PP17A, are located in an area where India and China largely agree on the LAC alignment.
After the 2020 ingress, there was a significant build-up of the Chinese troops and deployment of heavy weapons in Hot springs-Gogra region
Kongka Pass Location:
Kongka Pass, also known as the Kongka La, is a low mountain pass that cuts through the Chang Chenmo Valley. It is located in Ladakh, on the disputed India-China border.
Galwan Valley Location:
The valley is strategically placed between Ladakh in the west and Aksai Chin in the east. Both of which are currently under China’s control as part of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
About Pangong Tso lake:
- Pangong Tso or Pangong Lake is an endorheic lake spanning eastern Ladakh and West Tibet.
- It is divided into five sublakes, called Pangong Tso, Tso Nyak, Rum Tso (twin lakes) and Nyak Tso.
- Approximately 50% of the length of the overall lake lies within Tibet China, 40% in Ladakh India. The rest is disputed and is a de-facto buffer zone between India and China.
- During winter the lake freezes completely, despite being saline water.
- It has a land-locked basin separated from the Indus River basin by a small elevated ridge. It is believed to have been part of the latter in prehistoric times.
